DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- BRAGGING RIGHTS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE COST OF PARENTHOOD

"Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved." (II Corinthians 12:14-15)

The love that Paul had for the Church at Corinth is apparent. He considered them his children. As a father in the faith, he wanted the best for them. He did not want their things – their money – but he wanted them. The greatest gift of children to their parents is the presence – not their presents. Our Heavenly Father wants us more than our gifts.

Most parents can identify with Paul's love for the Corinthian. He did not want to be a burden or take advantage of them. But as a father would speak to his children word of correction, he has spoken to them to help them grow up in the faith. Above all, he wanted them to become strong and mature in the Christian faith. He was showing his love through his corrections.

It is a parent's responsibility to provide for their children, and not just in material things. Parent are loving their children even through correction and discipline. It is a fact that children do not always appreciate correction, and do not always love their parents emotionally. In fact, the more we love our children by discipling them, the less they may love us at the time. Often it is not until they are adults that children look back and thank their parents for this aspect of love. Even then, they may not appreciate how much it cost the parents.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews recognized this fact. In writing about God's discipline, he encouraged the readers to not despise the chastening of the Lord because that is a sign of sonship that comes out of His love for His children. That is why God says, "For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives." The fact is that "no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:5-8).

The parents' job is not just to provide materially for their children, but to give spiritual training. Lack of correction i's evidence of a lack of true love. Discipline is painful at the time, but looking back, we can see how it produced the fruit of righteousness. Thank God for love that disciplines.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- BRAGGING RIGHTS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – BRAGGING RIGHTS

"I say again, let not one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little. What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in the confidence of boasting. Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast." (II Corinthians 11:16-18)

The word "boast" or its correlatives is sprinkled throughout this letter. It is found 13 times in II Corinthians. I dislike braggarts. People who boast about their achievements and how good they are turn me off. I guess in the back of my mind, I think that they must have a low opinion of themselves, so they need to brag to build up their own ego or self-esteem. Paul puts boasters in the category of fools, and said that boasting is a work of the flesh.

Do you catch the sardonic flavor of Paul's words? He is almost sarcastic. The Believers at Corinth seemed to be be swayed by smooth talkers who boasted about themselves. He wrote in verses 19-20, "You put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face." They seemed to be gullible, falling for some line while being taken advantage of. If they were so wise, could not they see past the facade of the charming personalities to the emptiness of the rhetoric?

Paul mockingly lists all the things he might boast about – his Jewish heritage, his persecution as a minister of the Gospel, his deprivation of hunger and weariness, not to mention his concern for the Church. But he then drives the point home: "If I must boast, I will boast in the things which confirm my infirmities" – that is in his weaknesses (vs. 31). The fact that God worked through his weaknesses brought honor to God, not to himself. His boast was this: "the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity" (II Corinthians 1:12).

There is a place for honestly speaking about our abilities and accomplishments. We are not called to speak disparagingly about ourselves. But when the motive is to cause people to elevate me instead of glorifying God, then I need to keep silent and let my life speak. I want my life to bring glory and honor to God, the One who made me and saved me. In my life, Lord, be glorified today. I want to brag on God.

Love, Dad

DAD;S RAMBLINGS -- STINGY WITH GOD

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – STINGY WITH GOD

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: 'He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.' Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God" ( II Corinthians 9:8-11)

In his exhortation to the believers in Corinth, the Apostle used a metaphor to help them understand the principle of giving. It is the farmer who sows his seed for a future harvest.

First, God has supplied the seed to sow. Everything comes from God. He is our source – not the government nor the retirement fund. God provides through them, but He is the ultimate giver of all good things.

Second, the person who has been entrusted with resources is responsible to use those resources to sow seed in order to bring a crop.

Thirdly, God brings the increase as the sower is faithful. If the sower holds on to the seed and does not spread it abroad, he limits the reaping of the crop.

Jesus taught these same principles. He said, "Give and it shall be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you" (Luke 6:38).

I have a sneaky suspicion that if we are stingy with God, He will be stingy with us. Plus, liberality brings forth praise and thanksgiving from other people to God. God is blessed when we use His resources wisely.

A person who is not controlled by money can experience true financial freedom.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE JOY OF JESUS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE JOY OF JESUS

"Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality." (II Corinthians 8:1-2)

The churches of Macedonia were suffering tribulation because they did not conform to the state and societal demands. When people don't conform to the norms of the culture, they find themselves at odds with society. There is a price to pay for being a Christ-follower.

But this did not cause them sadness. It may have affected their financial condition bringing them deep poverty. But that did not cause them to lose their joy that they found in Jesus which abounded in their liberal giving.

Their response to tribulation and trials reflected the life of the Lord Jesus, Who, as the Apostle spoke of in verse 9, "though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." And the writer to the Hebrews wrote that "for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame" (Hebrews 12:2) The Churches in Macedonia experienced this. We can be poor in worldly resources, yet rich in spirit, and people who are rich in spirit have a joy that flows out of their innermost being.

We are in conflict with the world around us that is controlled by ungodly world-views and philosophies. We may even suffer some "trial of affliction" because of that conflict, but we can still live in joy, even if we come to poverty. The joy of the freedom in our spirits from condemnation and the prospect of eternity with Jesus set before us can help us keep our joy in the midst of trials.

There is joy in serving Jesus.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- HONORING THE FAMILY NAME

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – HONORING THE FAMILY NAME

"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse our lives from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (II Corinthians 7:1)

One of the principles of interpretation of the Scriptures is context. I learned early that when I see the word, "therefore," I need to consider what "therefore" is "there for." "Therefore" is a connecting word that completes the previous thought. Remember that the division into chapters was done to organize the Scriptures, and is not a part of the original text. Chapter 7:1 completes the thought of Chapter 6.

The apostle had just written, " 'Come out from among them and be separate,' says the Lord. 'Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty' " Here, the Apostle used an Old Testament promise to Israel found in Jeremiah 31:1 and applied it to Christians. The principle is valid for both Israel and believers in the Lord Jesus.

Israel was appointed by God to be "a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth" (Deuteronomy 14:2;  Exodus 19:6; Deuteronomy 7:6). Israel was to separate themselves to God from other nations and not intermarry with the pagan nations.

The Apostle Peter picked up on this theme when he wrote to Believers, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (I Peter 2:9).

The promise is that God would be a father to us, and we would be His sons and daughters. I remember well from my past the father who told his children, "You bear the family name. Do not bring reproach on the family name." As children of God, we are called by His name. What a wonderful promise that we should be called the sons of God (I John 3:1).

As His children, we should strive to never bring shame or reproach to the Father or His family by cleansing our flesh and spirits to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. May it be so in my life.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE MARKS OF MINISTRY

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – MARKS OF MINISTRY

"We then, as workers together with Him, also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain......We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God..."

(II Corinthians 6:1, 3-4a)

The edition of the Bible that I use headlines this chapter with the title: "Marks of the Ministry." That is not in the original text but is added to aid the reader as he or she reads the Scriptures. I think it is a good heading because the Apostle uses his own life as an example of a minister or servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, he says that he purposed to not give offense in anything he did so that no one could point a finger of blame at him and be distracted from his message.

Next, he gives a list of things that he himself has incorporated into his life. Things like patience or, as the margin reading says, endurance. He needed this attribute because of all the things he endured as a minister of God – tribulations, needs, distresses, stripes, imprisonments, tumults, labors, and sleeplessness.

His life was marked by purity in his conduct and motives, knowledge or spiritual understanding and moral wisdom, longsuffering or steadfastness of faith, kindness (which from the Greek could be gentleness or moral excellence); by love – for Christ and for others; truth – that is, sticking with the truth of the Gospel and not being led into sidetracks; righteousness – that is doing what is right. He was faithful in all kinds of circumstances – in honor and dishonor, when good was spoken of him, and also evil; as an unknown without a large reputation and also as well known; as dying, and yet as alive; as chastened but not killed; as sorrowful and yet rejoicing; as poor, yet being rich and making others rich with the knowledge of the Gospel.

These are high standards for a minister or servant of Jesus to live up to. Yet, it should be the goal of everyone who serves Christ to live morally pure, being steadfast in faith, gentle, loving, living righteously, and sticking with God's truth. No matter whether he has success and is recognized or applauded by others or not, he is not really serving others but the Lord Jesus, and Jesus will reward faithfulness. May this be the model, not just for the preachers and elders, but for all who serve the Lord Jesus. Because we are all ministers.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- LIVNG FOR JESUS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – LIVING FOR JESUS

"For the love of God compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no long for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." (II Corinthians 5:14-15)

Who or what do we live for? Some people live to eat. Some people live to have fun. Some people live to learn new things. Some people live to work. Some people live to be successful. Some people live for their families. Whatever my heart is centered on is what I live for.

The Apostle Paul had one thing he lived for – the Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. His love for Jesus overshadowed everything else in his life. His testimony is found in verse 9: "Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him." That is what he lived for, to please Jesus. Jesus Himself set the example, as it is recorded in John 8:29: " 'The Father has not left me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.' "

Paul did not live to please himself. He did not live to build his own personal kingdom and have a lot of people follow him so he could live the easy life. Indeed, he lived his life in suffering beatings and all kinds of bad things in order to please Christ.

When I think about how Jesuse died on the cross for my salvation, His love for me and my love for Him constrains me. If my goal is to please Jesus, it might cost me something, just as His love for me cost Him everything. But that is the only thing of eternal value.

This song says it well: "Living for Jesus, a life that is true. Striving to please Him in all that I do; Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free, this is the pathway of blessing for me. Living for Jesus Who died in my place, bearing on Calv'ry my sin and disgrace; Such love constrains me to answer His call, follow His leading and give Him my all. Living for Jesus, wherever I am, doing each duty in His holy Name; willing to suffer affliction and loss, deeming each trial a part of my cross. Living for Jesus through earth's little while, my dearest treasure, the light of His smile; seeking the lost ones He died to redeem, bringing the weary to find rest in Him. O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee, for Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me; I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne; My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone."

Love, Dad